Revd Dr Jonathan H Pye MA
Bristol Methodist District Chairman

I was born and brought up in the North West and studied theology at Durham, Cambridge and Leeds. After training at Wesley House, Cambridge I served in a rural Circuit in the North-East, a suburban Circuit in Bristol, a City Centre Circuit in Leeds and rural/town Circuit in Cumbria as Superintendent.
I have been a Chaplain in prisons, hospitals, schools and universities, and have lectured in departments of both theology and medicine. I have lectured in the USA, Canada, Australia and South Korea as well as the UK.
For twelve years, I was Principal of Wesley College, Bristol, I was the healthcare lead at the Cardiff University Centre for Chaplaincy Studies and maintain my post as Honorary Research Fellow in the Centre for Ethics in Medicine /Research Associate in the School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, and have published books and articles, mostly on theology, spirituality and healthcare ethics. In 2015, I returned to the Bristol District of the Methodist Church as Chair in 2015 when I was also appointed as an Honorary Bishop of the Joongang Conference of the Korean Methodist Church.
I have served on many national committees and working parties for the Methodist Church, including the Faith and Order Committee of the Methodist Church and was the Methodist representative on the national Doctrine and Worship Committee of the URC.
I am married to Denise and we have two adult children, Naomi and Thomas. Once having played rugby, I now enjoy watching it and, when possible, enjoy Theatre and the Arts.
Revd Ruth Whitehead, BSC, MA
Moderator of South Western Synod of the United Reformed Church

I was born in West Yorkshire but grew up in South Wales and have lived in many places in England since.
My first degree in Biological Sciences led to four years as a schoolteacher before training for ministry.
I served as a minister in the United Reformed Church in Woodford Green & Buckhurst Hill, Summertown in Oxford, a United URC/Methodist church in Abingdon, and then four churches in South Cambridgeshire (two of them Anglican). I became Moderator of the South Western Synod in July 2013.
Special Areas of Interest – helping the local church to be faithful and hopeful, sharing God’s love and sharing in God’s mission; a consultancy approach to listening to problems and seeking solutions together.
Hobbies; – walking, running, camping, music and reading.
Revd Gary Gotham
Area Chair
Pastoral Responsibility: Devizes St Andrews/Marston and Market Lavington

Gary graduated from Northern College Manchester in 2000 and served 5 churches in Stockport, Cheshire for twelve years before coming to Wiltshire.
In his spare time he enjoys hazy summer days with friends, Formula One, real ale and messing about with computers.
There is a rumour he is building a kit car in his garage, but internal combustion engines will be outlawed before he ever gets round to finishing it.
Email: gary.gotham@gmail.com
Tel: 01380 724264
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/garygotham
Revd David Coppard
Methodist Superintendent
Pastoral Responsibility: Warminster, Westbury Methodist, Westbury URC and Steeple Ashton

The Wiltshire United Area are pleased to welcome the Revd David Coppard to begin his ministry with us from September 2012. David will have pastoral care for Westbury Methodist Church, Westbury United Reformed Church, Warminster Methodist Church and Steeple Ashton Methodist Church.
David comes to us from the Ilfracombe and Barnstaple Circuit in North Devon, previous to this he was in Bournemouth where he worked with our previous Superintendent David Ellis, both of whom are avid train enthusiasts. David’s other interests include long distance running, cycling and exercising Poppy, his border collie dog.
David originates from Somerset on leaving school at 16 with one O Level in Woodwork he was an apprentice carpenter, his first construction site being in Frome. As a child he had felt a call to Ordination and has spent almost twenty years in Circuit Ministry. He trained at Wesley College with Chris Cory and also studied at Cardiff University where he obtained a Master’s degree.
Email: david.coppard@methodist.org.uk
Tel: 01737 858805
Revd Tracey Lewis
Pastoral Responsibility: Trowbridge United, Trowbridge Wesley Road and Holt URC

I come, originally, from Cardiff in South Wales. I was a member of a united URC/Methodist Church until I applied for ministerial training and went to study in Manchester.
My first pastorate was with two United Reformed Churches in the West Midlands. I then took a career break while my children were small and enjoyed being part of a local community in Hertfordshire with other parents and studied for an M.A in applied theology and mission.
Returning to Ministry I served in a URC in Bristol for 15 years where I was involved in the rebuilding and development of the church buildings for community use, the exploration of the Bible with the congregation, arranging several pilgrimages to Iona and was Chair of the Bristol Multi Faith Forum.
I have served on the URC Mission Committee and Mission Council.
I have 2 grown up children. My interests include cooking, knitting, occasional art projects, reading and I enjoy walking and gardening.
Pastoral responsibility for Trowbridge United, Trowbridge Wesley Road and Holt URC.
Email: tracey.a.lewis@btinternet.com
Tel: 01225 759170
Revd Dr Peggy Kabonde
Pastoral Responsibility: Melksham United Church, Whitely Methodist Chapel and Bradford-on-Avon United Church

The Rev Dr Peggy Kabonde was General Secretary of the United Church of Zambia, a church of approximately 3 million members. She is the first woman to hold this post and has an international portfolio having given lectures and led seminars in many countries, including here in the UK.
Peggy has now joined the Wilts United Area staff and is taking up her appointment as the Sector Minister for Melksham United Church, Whitley Methodist Chapel and Bradford-on-Avon United Church.
Her Area welcoming Service will be held after the family members join her. Our prayers are with her as she settles into her home and appointment in the UK.
Email: mulambyakabonde@yahoo.co.uk
Revd Pam Stranks
Pastoral responsibility: Calne, Corsham and Bromham

Pam joined the Wiltshire United Area in September 2020 having recently moved back to Wiltshire after being in Methodist circuit ministry in Devon for 10 years.
She joined the Methodist Church whilst attending a local church toddler group with her young children, became a local preacher, served as a layworker and completed her Ordination training at Wesley College in Bristol.
She was initially appointed to churches in the Chippenham circuit before relocating to Devon. She is married to David and they have grown up children and young grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with the family, singing, especially choral singing, and eating out when possible!
In recent times during ‘lockdown’ she has been growing fruit, veg and flowers!
Email: pamstranks@gmail.com
Tel: 01249 818923
Retired Supernumerary Ministers living in the Area
Revd. Peter King | Devizes |
Revd. Tom MacMeekin | Market Lavington |
Revd. Mike Burrell | Westbury |
Revd. Jennifer Davies | Warminster |
Revd. Mary Teed | Westbury |
Revd. A Ward Jones | Westbury |
Revd. Maree Farrimond | Trowbridge |
Revd. Sue Henderson | Trowbridge |
Revd. Di Whittall | Melksham |
Revd. Peter Whatton | Bradford-On-Avon |
Revd. Anne Dove | Corsham |
Revd. Susan Holden | Warminster |
Revd. Ray Adams | Chippenham |
Revd. Graham Warmington | Westbury |
Revd. Heather Morgan | Warminster |
Ministers without or Outside Area Appointment
Revd. Ruth Whittard | Calne |
Accredited Local Preachers living in the Area
Name | Home address | Name | Home address |
Jane Burn | Devizes | Clive Illman | Trowbridge |
Janet Clark | Melksham | Geraldine Mann | Whitely |
Pat Clarke | Trowbridge | Jeannie MacMeeking | Market Lavington |
Eric Clifford | Semmington | Ruth McGregor | Devizes |
Douglas Colbourne | Calne | John Saunders | Devizes |
Michael Currass | Trowbridge | Isabel Smears | Steeple Ashton |
Bob Farrimond | Trowbridge | Sue Smith | Trowbridge |
Derek Gard | Calne | Janet Tanner | Devizes |
Michele | Calne | Pauline Tiller | Steeple Ashton |
Jean Gray | Bradford-on-Avon | Peter Walker | Bradford-on-Avon |
Joseph Glasgow | Corsham | Jacky Williams | Westbury |
Tom Hill | Trowbridge | John Williams | Westbury |
Area Officers
Mrs Beryl Hill | Area Co-ordinator |
Mr Michael Burns | Area Treasurer |
Vacant | Assistant Treasurer |
Mrs Pamela Packer | Staffing & Support |
Vacant | Staffing & Support |
Vacant | Property |
Mrs Julie Vince | Area Administrator |
Mrs Jan Sayers | Area Safeguarding Officer |
Mr Gary Gotham | Webmaster |
Area Committees
Property | Church Buildings | Vacant |
Area Manses | Vacant | |
Finance | Treasurer | Mr Michael Burns |
Assistant Treasurer | Vacant | |
Staffing & Support | Mrs Pamela Packer | |
Training | Chair | Revd. Gary Gotham |
Secretary | Mrs Julie Vince | |
Network | Devizes, Calne, Melksham & Corsham sectors | Vacant |
Westbury, Warminster, Bradford-on-Avon sectors | Mrs Pat Stronach | |
World Church Group | Chair | Revd. David Coppard |
Secretary | Mrs Maggie Skyrme | |
Missions & Outreach | Devizes, Calne & Melksham sector reps | Mrs Pauline Tiller, Mrs Elaine Greatwood |
Westbury, Warminster, Bradford-on-Avon sector reps | Mrs Julie Vince, Mrs Maggie Skyrme, Mrs Peggie Gray | |
Preachers meeting | Chair | Revd David Coppard |
Secretary | Mr Bob Farrimond |
(Missions & Outreach – The committee ideally has members from all the churches within the area. If your church or Sector has no representative we would welcome one)